Veterinary Clinical Assistant

A Rewarding Career

If you love animals, then consider the emerging need for Veterinary Assistants in the Greater Austin area. As the population continues to expand, the number of pets is growing and creating an urgent need for caring and qualified veterinary clinical assistants.

Your Building Blocks to Success

The Austin Community College Veterinary Assistant program is 504 hours that can be completed in approximately one year. By combining hands-on learning with clinical experiences, this program will prepare you to launch a new career as a Certified Veterinary Assistant. This program also articulates with the Veterinary Technology program at ACC. Contact the program coordinator for details.

Get Started Now!

The program starts in the Fall and Spring of each year. Get your application in now as seats are limited. Please download the application packet for information about the application and orientation process.

Contact Information

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Be among the first to know about new and exciting events, lectures and interactive workshops in and around the Austin area. Additionally, you can also sign up to receive specific news from our Health Professions department, which this program falls under.

Semester III

"I have been working in the veterinary field for about 5 years and completed the veterinary assistant program In 2012. The veterinary assistant program has influenced my career a lot; I learned hands-on how to better my technical skills and client care specialist skills. I can't imagine doing anything else--becoming a veterinary assistant is the best choice I've made!"

A Testimonial From C. Graff -

"I know I probably haven't said it enough but thank you again for the knowledge and training you instilled in my brain. I had an opportunity to scrub in on a surgery today for the first time and without your training, would not have had a clue what to do! I still needed a little prompting since it's been a bit since our surgery and anesthesia class, but I have no doubt that the knowledge I gained in the VCA program at ACC was the key reason I was given this opportunity."

A Testimonial From Stephanie Chaney -

"I've been in the field of veterinary medicine for almost 5 years and I completed the ACC veterinary assistant program in 2014. My education has had a significant impact on my career and my current place of employment. The classes are well taught and I have had the chance to apply everything I've learned. I've had the opportunity to help open a practice with a wonderful doctor and staff in Pflugerville. Due to my educational background and dedication I am now working as a surgical technician and excel in client education. I've had the chance to connect with other professionals in the field and I've had opportunities to attend many events and seminars to further my education. I am so glad I made the decision to be apart of this program and I strongly encourage others with an interest in the veterinary field to pursue their education with ACC."

A Testimonial From Marian R. -

"I completed the Veterinary Assistant Certificate in December of 2014. The program is very well structured and organized (shout-out to Elizabeth Warren!). English is my second language and although it was very challenging at times; I learned that hard work, dedication and patience will get you through the end!
As a class, we went to several sites to get hands on experience. My favorite site was Veterinary Surgical Solutions. I learned through the program that they were hiring. Shortly after, I became a part of the VSS team.
Going through the program helped me understand and be more knowledgeable of diseases/injuries and the science behind the different treatment options and how/why they are implemented in real practice. At VSS I'm able to apply my education as a Veterinary Assistant in a variety of ways: providing customer care, handling patient intake, conducting rechecks, consults, assisting with patient care and recovery, filling medications, obtaining laboratory specimens, taking radiographs, managing medical records, discharging patients after surgery, etc.
I highly recommend this certificate for anyone interested in the veterinary field. It provided me with invaluable skills and education that help me every day in my professional life. It helped me set the path for a job I love and where I get to make a difference in the lives of many!"

A Testimonial From D'via Martin -

"This is a great program to get you started in the Veterinary Field. You will learn all the essentials from some wonderful LVT's to allow you to walk in any clinic and get a job. It's not just about puppy and kitten hugging, there is work involved but it's completely worth it, coming from someone who wanted to give up more than once, it's completely worth it. If this is something you want to do and you are serious about check it out."

A Testimonial From Elsa Kohlbus -

"As a professional in the animal health and welfare field, I feel lucky to have gone through the ACC Veterinary Assistant Program. The classes are well rounded, challenging and impeccably taught. The importance of hands-on learning in this field is huge, and this program offered up many opportunities to learn things by jumping in and doing them. I could not have asked for better preparation for my career as a veterinary assistant and clinic supervisor. As part of the program, I was able to make connections with veterinary professionals in the Austin area which have been instrumental in my professional development. The ACC VAP has been a great benefit to me and is a great asset to our veterinary community. I am proud to have been a part of it."

A Testimonial From Diana Murillo -

"I've been in the field of veterinary medicine for almost 3 years and completed the ACC veterinary assistant program in 2013. This program has offered me a substantial amount of animal education that is very useful in my everyday field of work. These individual courses are very well planned and offer plenty of hands-on experience. The training I received from ACC in combination with my current position, I have been able to work/assist with a variety of animals including coatis, wolves, horses, goats, dogs, and cats etc. I'm very satisfied that I made the decision to join ACC VAP, because with the skills I've acquired I am now working as a small/large animal veterinary technician. I highly suggest anyone wanting to gain the knowledge of veterinary assisting to go through this program. I can't say enough how much I love my job, many thanks to the ACC veterinary assistant program."

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